Display Device

ABSTRACT

There is provided a display device having a configuration suitable for increasing a screen size and reducing a thickness while ensuring adequate strength. The display device includes: a frame structure having a plurality of extrusion molded members coupled to one another; a display panel; and an intermediate member attached to the frame structure and holding the display panel.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a display device.

BACKGROUND ART

There has been proposed a display device being thin yet having a largescreen size (see PTLs 1 to 3, for example).

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

PTL 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-86046

PTL 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2010-15098

PTL 3: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.2012-141385

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Recent display devices have a notably increased screen size and anotably reduced thickness. However, the increased screen size and thereduced thickness of such display devices make it difficult to ensurestrength of the display devices themselves.

Thus, it is desirable to provide a display device having a configurationsuitable for increasing the screen size and reducing the thickness whileensuring adequate strength.

A display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosureincludes: a frame structure having a plurality of extrusion moldedmembers coupled to one another; a display panel; and an intermediatemember attached to the frame structure and holding the display panel.

In the display device according to the embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the display panel is held by the frame structure having theplurality of extrusion molded members coupled to one another via theintermediate member. This makes it possible to suppress increase of aweight of the display device itself due to the increased screen sizecompared to, for example, a display device in which the display panel isheld by a housing fabricated by molding a single sheet metal. Thus,deformation is less likely to be caused by its own weight despite itsthin shape.

According to the display device of the embodiment of the presentdisclosure, adoption of the frame structure makes it possible to preventdeformation caused by its own weight accompanied by the increased screensize and the reduced thickness. This makes it possible to achieve aconfiguration suitable for increasing the screen size and reducing thethickness while ensuring adequate strength.

It is to be noted that the effects of the present disclosure are notlimited thereto, and may include any of the effects described below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective views of an overall configuration example of adisplay device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an internal configuration example ofa main part of the display device illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of an overall configurationexample of a back chassis illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4A is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the back chassisillustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4B is an enlarged perspective view of another portion of the backchassis illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5A is an enlarged perspective view of a vicinity of a middlechassis illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5B is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the vicinity of themiddle chassis illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an exploded external perspective view of the middle chassisillustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7A is a perspective view of an external appearance of a componentof the middle chassis illustrated in FIG. 6.

FIG. 7B is another perspective view of the external appearance of thecomponent of the middle chassis illustrated in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a cross-section of aportion of the middle chassis illustrated in FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a cross-section of aperiphery of the display panel illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an overall configuration example of alight emitter illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 11A is an enlarged perspective view of a reflection memberillustrated in FIG. 10.

FIG. 11B is another enlarged perspective view of the reflection memberillustrated in FIG. 10.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In the following, embodiments of the present disclosure are described indetail with reference to the drawings. It is to be noted thatdescription is made in the following order.

1. Embodiment and Modification Example Thereof

An example of a display device including a back chassis having a framestructure.

2. Other Modification Examples 1. EMBODIMENT [Configuration of DisplayDevice 100]

FIG. 1 illustrates an overall configuration of a display device 100according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is across-sectional view of an internal configuration example of a main partof the display device 100 illustrated in FIG. 1. The display device 100is used as a flat-panel television set, for example, and includes alight emitter 1, an optical sheet 2, and a display panel 3 overlappedone another in this order toward an observer (viewer) side. The displaydevice 100 further includes a back chassis 4, a middle chassis 5, and abezel 6. It is to be noted that in the display device 100, a directionin which the light emitter 1, the optical sheet 2, and the display panel3 are disposed is regarded as a Z-axis direction. Moreover, in a planeperpendicular to the Z-axis direction, a longitudinal direction isregarded as an X-direction and a short direction is regarded as aY-direction.

(Back Chassis 4)

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of an overall configurationexample of the back chassis 4. The back chassis 4 is a frame structurehaving a plurality of extrusion molded members coupled to one another.Such a configuration achieves higher strength with light weight, ascompared to a configuration in which the back chassis includes one ormore flat plates, for example. Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 3,for example, a pair of beams 41 (41A and 41B), a pair of pillars 42 (42Aand 42B), and a plurality of sub-pillars 43 (43A to 43D) may be specificexamples of the extrusion molded member. The beam 41A and the beam 41Bare members both extending in a horizontal direction (the X-axisdirection). The beam 41A is disposed along an upper end edge of each ofthe light emitter 1, the optical sheet 2, and the display panel 3, andthe beam 41B is disposed along a lower end edge of each of the lightemitter 1, the optical sheet 2, and the display panel 3. In contrast,the pillar 42A and the pillar 42B are members both extending in avertical direction (the Y-axis direction). The pillar 42A is disposedalong a right end edge of each of the light emitter 1, the optical sheet2, and the display panel 3 as seen from the observer, and the pillar 42Bis disposed along a left end edge of each of the light emitter 1, theoptical sheet 2, and the display panel 3 as seen from the observer.

FIGS. 4A and 4B each are an exploded perspective view of a configurationexample of a main part of the back chassis 4, and respectivelyillustrate enlargements of a coupling portion between the beam 41A andthe pillar 42A and a coupling portion between the beam 41A and thepillar 42B. The beam 41A includes a base 411 extending display devicethe X-axis direction in an XY plane, a wall 412 extending toward theX-axis direction in an XZ plane, and an inclined section 413 joining thebase 411 and the wall 412. The beam 41B has substantially the sameconfiguration as the beam 41A. Moreover, each of the pair of pillars42A, 42B includes a base 421 extending toward the Y-axis direction inthe XY plane, a wall 422 extending toward the Y-axis direction in the YZplane, and an inclined section 423 joining the base 421 and the wall422.

As illustrated in FIG. 4A, a right end of the beam 41A and an upper endof the pillar 42A are coupled together by an L-shaped metal fitting 45A,an L-shaped metal fitting 46A, screws 47A, and screws 48A. Specifically,the base 411 and the base 421 are fastened together by the commonL-shaped metal fitting 45A and the respective screws 47A, and the wall412 and the wall 422 are fastened by the common L-shaped metal fitting46A and the respective screws 48A. The L-shaped metal fitting 45A has aplurality of holes 45AK through which the screws 47A pass. The base 411on the right end of the beam 41A and the base 421 on the upper end ofthe pillar 42A respectively have a plurality of holes 411K and aplurality of holes 421K through which the screws 47A pass at positionscorresponding to the plurality of holes 45AK. The L-shaped metal fitting46A has a plurality of holes 46AK through which the screws 48A pass. Thewall 412 and the wall 422 respective have a plurality of holes 412K anda plurality of holes 422K through which the screws 48A pass at positionscorresponding to the plurality of holes 46AK.

Similarly, as illustrated in FIG. 4B, a left end of the beam 41A and anupper end of the pillar 42B are coupled together by an L-shaped metalfitting 45B, an L-shaped metal fitting 46B, screws 47B, and screws 48B.Specifically, the base 411 and the base 421 are fastened together by thecommon L-shaped metal fitting 45B and the respective screws 47B, and thewall 412 and the wall 422 are fastened together by the common L-shapedmetal fitting 46B and the respective screws 48B. The L-shaped metalfitting 45B has a plurality of holes 45BK through which the screws 47Apass. The base 411 on the left end of the beam 41A and the base 421 onthe upper end of the pillar 42B respectively have a plurality of holes411K and a plurality of holes 421K through which the screws 48B pass atpositions corresponding to the plurality of holes 45BK. The L-shapedmetal fitting 46B has a plurality of holes 46BK through which the screws48B pass. The wall 412 and the wall 422 respectively have a plurality ofholes 412K and a plurality of holes 422K through which the screws 48Bpass at positions corresponding to the plurality of holes 46BK.

The plurality of holes 411K are preferably long holes extending in theX-axis direction, and the plurality of holes 421K are preferably longholes extending in the Y-axis direction. Alternatively, dimensions ofthe holes 421K in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction may bemade larger than those of the holes 45AK in the X-axis direction and theY-axis direction. This is to make it possible to easily adjust overalldimensions of the back chassis 4 resulting from a dimensional error ofeach extrusion molded member.

It is to be noted that a configuration of a coupling portion between thebeam 41B and the pillar 42A and a configuration of a coupling portionbetween the beam 41B and the pillar 42B are substantially the same asthose illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B. Accordingly, detailed descriptionthereof is omitted.

Moreover, each of the plurality of sub-pillars 43 (43A to 43D) is amember extending in the vertical direction (the Y-axis direction) so asto join the beam 41B and the beam 41B, and the sub-pillars 43 areequally spaced in the X-axis direction, for example, between the pillar42A and the pillar 42B. The sub-pillars 43 (43A to 43D) each are fixedto the beam 41A and the beam 41B at both ends thereof in the Y-axisdirection by screws or the like.

The back chassis 4 may further include a plurality of sub-beams 44 (44Ato 44E) extending in the horizontal direction so as to join theplurality of sub-pillars 43 to one another.

It is to be noted that a rib extending in its longitudinal direction maybe formed in at least one of the pair of beams 41 (41A and 41B), thepair of pillars 42 (42A and 42B), or the plurality of sub-pillars 43(43A to 43D). This makes it possible to further increase strength whilereducing the thickness of each extrusion molded member.

Moreover, the pair of beams 41 (41A and 41B), the pair of pillars 42(42A and 42B), and the plurality of sub-pillars 43 (43A to 43D) mayinclude, for example, a highly rigid metallic material such as stainlesssteel, or may include aluminum, titanium, magnesium, or the like aloneor an alloy including these elements, thereby reducing weights thereof.Further, the pair of beams 41 (41A and 41B), the pair of pillars 42 (42Aand 42B), and the plurality of sub-pillars 43 (43A to 43D) also haveapplicability of fiber-reinforced plastics (FRP: Fiber-ReinforcedPlastics). Furthermore, the pair of beams 41 (41A and 41B), the pair ofpillars 42 (42A and 42B), and the plurality of sub-pillars 43 (43A to43D) are extrusion molded members formed by extrusion molding, whichallows the back chassis 4 to have a configuration having highermanufacturability.

(Middle Chassis 5)

The middle chassis 5 is an intermediate member that is attached to theback chassis 4 and hold the display panel 3. For example, the middlechassis 5 are disposed at four points in the display device 100, asillustrated in FIG. 1. Among them, for example, one extending in theX-axis direction along an upper end of the display panel 3 is referredto as a middle chassis 5A, one extending in the X-axis direction along alower end of the display panel 3 is referred to as a middle chassis 5B,one extending in the Y-axis direction along a right end of the displaypanel 3 is referred to as a middle chassis 5C, and one extending in theY-axis direction along a left end of the display panel 3 is referred toas a middle chassis 5D. The middle chassis 5A to 5D have a substantiallysame configuration. Accordingly, description is given below with use ofthe middle chassis 5B as a representative example.

FIG. 5A is an enlarged cross-sectional perspective view of a portion ofthe middle chassis 5B, and FIG. 5B is an exploded cross-sectionalperspective view thereof. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of anoverall configuration example of the middle chassis 5B. FIG. 7A is anenlarged perspective view of an external appearance of a single piece asa component of the middle chassis 5B as seen from outside of the displaydevice 100, and FIG. 7B is an enlarged perspective view of an externalappearance of the piece 50 as seen from inside of the display device100.

The middle chassis 5B includes a substrate 51 extending along an outeredge of the display panel 3 and having, for example, a strip shape, anda plurality of pieces 50 (50A to 50D) disposed along a longitudinaldirection of the substrate 51 and held by the substrate 51 to makerespective relative positions to the substrate 51 adjustable (FIGS. 5A,5B, and 6).

Each of the plurality of pieces 50 includes a locking section 54T (FIGS.5A and 5B). In detail, as illustrated in FIG. 5B, the locking section54T includes a wall surface 54T1 serving as an abutment surface thatabuts an end surface 3T of the display panel 3 and a bottom surface 54T2that supports a periphery of a back surface 3B of the display panel 3.The plurality of pieces 50 are held by the substrate 51 in a state inwhich the relative positions thereof to the substrate 51 are adjusted toinclude the respective wall surfaces 54T1 substantially in a same plane.The substrate 51 includes, for example, a highly rigid material such asstainless steel. Each of the plurality of pieces 50 includes a base 54extending in the X-axis direction in the XY plane, for example, and awall 55 standing in the Z-axis direction with respect to the base 54 andextending in the X-axis direction in the XZ plane. The base 54 has anopening 54K, and a screw 52 inserted in the opening 54K is engaged in ascrew hole 51H provided in the substrate 51 (FIG. 5B), thereby fixingthe substrate 51 and the base 54 (the piece 50). Herein, providing amargin for dimensions of the opening 54K makes it possible to adjust therelative positions of the respective pieces 50 with respect to thesubstrate 51 in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. The base54 and a shelf section 414 provided to the beam 41 (41B) of the backchassis 4 interpose an optical sheet 2 (FIGS. 5A and 5B). The shelfsection 414 is fixed to the wall 412 of the beam 41 (41B). The base 54includes a plurality of ribs 54L extending in the Y-axis direction.Presence of the ribs 54L increases strength of the base 54, whichenables the piece 50 to sufficiently support even the display panel 3having weight increased with increase in size. The wall 55 overlaps aportion of the wall 412 of the beam 41 (41B). The wall 55 has an opening55K, and a screw 53 inserted in the opening 55K is engaged in a screwhole 412H provided in the wall 412 (FIG. 5B), thereby fixing the wall412 of the beam 41 (41B) and the wall 55 of the piece 50. Herein, it ispreferable not to tighten the wall 55 against the wall 412 too muchthrough using a stepped screw as the screw 53 or interposing a washer orthe like that has a predetermined height between the screw 53 and thewall 412. This is not to apply stress locally to the end surface 3T ofthe display panel 3 in a case where the wall surface 54T1 of the lockingsection 54T abuts the end surface 3T of the display panel 3. A reasonfor this is because, in a case where the display panel 3 uses, forexample, a liquid crystal display element, degradation of image qualitymay occur such as an image taking on a white tinge only in a portionwhere strong stress is applied.

Moreover, a thickness of the base 54 of each piece 50 preferablydecreases toward a center portion in the extending direction of thesubstrate 51, i.e. toward a center portion of the display device 100.For example, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the bottom surface 54T2 of thebase 54 in each of the plurality of pieces 50A to 50D preferably bendsto form, as a whole, a curve bulging forward (toward the +Z direction)as getting closer to a center portion of the display panel 3. Thiscauses the display panel 3 to also bend so as to bulge forward alongsuch a bending bottom surface 54T2 of the base 54. It is to be notedthat the bottom surface 54T2 is a specific example corresponding to a“first opposed surface” of the present disclosure.

(Bezel 6)

The bezel 6 is a frame member used to protect mainly each of peripheriesof the back chassis 4, the middle chassis 5, and the display panel 3 andto improve esthetics. The bezel 6 is divided into four portions, forexample, as illustrated in FIG. 1. Among them, for example, oneextending in the X-axis direction along the upper end of the displaypanel 3 is referred to as a bezel 6A, one extending in the X-axisdirection along the lower end of the display panel 3 is referred to as abezel 6B, one extending in the Y-axis direction along the right end ofthe display panel 3 is referred to as a bezel 6C, and one extending inthe Y-axis direction along the left end of the display panel 3 isreferred to as a bezel 6D. The bezels 6A to 6D have a substantially sameconfiguration. Accordingly, description is given below with use of thebezel 6A as a representative example.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the bezel 6 (6A) is a member disposed tosurround the outer edge of the display panel 3 and an outer edge of theback chassis 4, and includes a front portion 61, a rear portion 62, andan intermediate portion 63. The front portion 61 is a portion extendingin the X-axis direction in the XY plane and disposed to interpose theperiphery of the display panel 3 between the front portion 61 and thebottom surface 54T2 of the middle chassis 5A, and includes an innersurface 61S as a second opposed surface opposed to the periphery of thedisplay panel 3. The inner surface 61S bends forward (toward the +Zdirection) as getting closer to the center portion of the display panel3, as illustrated in FIG. 9, for example. That is, the inner surface 61Sforms a recessed surface toward a rearward direction (a −Z direction).Accordingly, the display panel 3 interposed between the bezel 6 (6A) andthe middle chassis 5 (5A) is in a state of bending so as to bulgeforward along the shape of the inner surface 61S and the shape of thebottom surface 54T2. Similarly forming the inner surface 61S of thefront portion 61 of each of the bezels 6B to 6D and the bottom surface54T2 of each of the middle chassis 5B to 5D causes the display panel 3to be brought into a state of bending so as to bulge forward as gettingcloser to the center portion thereof. It is to be noted that, althoughboth the shape of the inner surface 61S of the front portion 61 and theshape of the bottom surface 54T2 of each of the middle chassis 5B to 5Dhave continuously changing inclination with respect to the XY plane inthis embodiment, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Theinclination of the inner surface 61S and the inclination of the bottomsurface 54T2 with respect to the XY plane may change in a stepwisemanner. Alternatively, the inner surface 61S may have a stepwise shapecausing the thickness of the front portion 61 to change in a stepwisemanner (thinning in a stepwise manner toward the center portion of thedisplay panel 3). Similarly, the bottom surface 54T2 of the middlechassis 5 may have a stepwise shape causing the thickness of the base 54of the middle chassis 5 to change in a stepwise manner (thickening in astepwise manner toward the center portion of the display panel 3).Moreover, it is preferable that the shape of the inner surface 61Scoincide with the shape of the bottom surface 54T2, but they may notcoincide with each other.

(Light Emitter 1)

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an overall configuration example of thelight emitter 1. Moreover, FIG. 11A is an enlarged perspective view of amain part of the light emitter 1. The light emitter 1 is a so-calledbacklight unit (surface light emitting unit) that provides the backsurface 3B of the display panel 3 with illumination light. The lightemitter 1 includes a substrate 11 housed in the back chassis 4 andspreading out in the XY plane and a reflection member 12 disposed infront of the substrate 11 and spreading out in the XY plane. A pluralityof light sources 10 are arranged in a matrix on a surface of thesubstrate 11. The light source 10 is a point light source, whichspecifically includes an LED (Light Emitting Diode; light emittingdiode) that emits white light, for example. One of the plurality oflight sources 10 is provided for each of a plurality of openings 13Kdisposed in the reflection member 12.

The reflection member 12 is a member having a function of performing anoptical effect on incident light such as reflection, diffusion, andscattering. The reflection member 12 includes a plurality of dividedpanels 13 spaced from one another in the XY plane. That is, theplurality of divided panels 13 are arranged in a matrix in the XY planeto form the reflection member 12 as a single reflector. Each of thedivided panels 13 has a plurality of openings 13K into which lightsources 10 are inserted. The openings 13K each have an inner surface 13Sthat surrounds the light source 10 and is inclined with respect to thesubstrate 11. It is to be noted that a planar shape of the opening 13Kis not limited to be circular as illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11A, butmay be of any other shape such as an oval shape or a polygonal shape. Acenter point of the opening 13K in the XY plane preferably coincideswith an optical axis of the light source 10.

The divided panel 13 is fabricated by machining out of a plate-likemember, for example, or by injection molding or heat press molding.Examples of a constituent material of the divided panel 13 includepolycarbonate resin, acrylic resin such as PMMA (polymethyl methacrylateresin), polyester resin such as polyethylene terephthalate, amorphouscopolymer polyester resin such as MS (copolymer of methyl methacrylateand styrene), polystyrene resin, and polyvinyl chloride resin.

The plurality of divided panels 13 are fixed to the back chassis 4 so asto have a gap 13G therebetween, as illustrated in FIG. 11A, for example.Each of the plurality of divided panels 13 is fixed to at least one of,for example, the pillars 42A and 42B, the sub-pillars 43A to 43D, andthe sub-beams 44A to 44E of the back chassis 4 with a screw 14 (FIG.11A) or the like. Presence of the gap 13G makes it possible to avoidinterference between adjacent divided panels 13 even in a case whereeach of the divided panels 13 expands or contracts due to increase intemperature accompanied by change in atmospheric temperature orturning-on of the light source 10, or decrease in temperatureaccompanied by turning-off of the light source 10. That is, it ispossible to suppress distortion of the reflection member 12 ordisplacement thereof with respect to the light source 10 caused byexpansion and contraction of each of the divided panels 13. However, itis also conceivable that provision of the gap 13G may cause a dark linecaused by the gap 13G to be recognized by the observer through thedisplay panel 3. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 11B, for example, it isdesirable to dispose cover members 15 (15A to 15D) as appropriate so asto overlap the gaps 13G generated between adjacent ones of the pluralityof divided panels 13. This makes it possible to suppress occurrence ofthe dark line and avoiding degradation of a luminance distribution inthe XY plane. In an example illustrated in FIG. 11B, the gap 13G betweenthe divided panel 13A and the divided panel 13B (FIG. 11A) is covered bythe cover member 15A, and the gap 13G between the divided panel 13B andthe divided panel 13C (FIG. 11A) is covered by the cover member 15B.Furthermore, the gap 13G between the divided panel 13C and the dividedpanel 13D (FIG. 11A) is covered by the cover member 15C, and the gap 13Gbetween the divided panel 13D and the divided panel 13A (FIG. 11A) iscovered by the cover member 15D. It is to be noted that each of thecover members 15 is also fixed to at least one of the pillars 42A and42B, the sub-pillars 43A to 43D, and the sub-beams 44A to 44E with thescrew 14. The cover member 15 may include a material of the same kind asthe material of the divided panel 13 and, in such a case, it is possibleto reflect, toward the back surface 3B of the display panel 3, aplurality of light beams emitted from the light sources 10.

(Optical Sheet 2)

The optical sheet 2 is disposed between the display panel 3 and thelight emitter 1, and placed on the shelf section 414 of the beam 41 ofthe back chassis 4 as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 5A, and 5B, for example.The optical sheet 2 is disposed to cover all over the reflection member12. The optical sheet 2 is a stack of a plurality of sheets such as adiffuser plate, a diffuser sheet, a lens film, and a polarizationseparating sheet. Providing such an optical sheet 2 makes it possible todirect light diagonally emitted from the light source 10 and lightdiagonally outputted from the reflection member 12 to the forwarddirection (the Z direction), thereby further increasing front luminance

(Display Panel 3)

The display panel 3 includes a display surface 3A that displays a movingimage or a still image in a forward direction, the back surface 3B on aside opposite to the display surface 3A, and the end surface 3T thatjoins the display surface 3A and the back surface 3B. The display panel3 is, for example, a transmissive liquid crystal display panel includinga liquid crystal layer disposed between, for example, a TFT substrateand a color filter substrate. Light coming from the light emitter 1 viathe optical sheet 2 enters the back surface 3B and exits from thedisplay surface 3A. The display panel 3 may further include a polarizerplate or the like.

[Workings and Effects of Display Device 100]

In the display device 100, light emitted from the light source 10 of thelight emitter 1 spreads to all directions across 360 degrees from alight emission point of the light source. Thereafter, the light directlyenters the optical sheet 2, or indirectly enters the back side of theoptical sheet 2 after being reflected by the surfaces of the reflectionmember 12, the substrate 11, etc. The light having entered the back sideof the optical sheet 2 passes through the optical sheet 2 to exit fromthe front surface, and then is applied to the display panel 3 assurface-emitted light. Appropriate image display corresponding to animage signal is performed on the display panel 3 through selectivelytransmitting the light from the light emitter 1,

The display device 100 adopts the back chassis 4 as a frame structurehaving a plurality of extrusion molded members coupled to one another,and the display panel 3 is held via the middle chassis 5. This makes itpossible to suppress increase of weight of the display device itself dueto the increased screen size compared to, for example, a display devicehaving a configuration in which the display panel is held by a housingfabricated by press-molding a single sheet metal. Thus, deformation isless likely to be caused by its own weight despite its thin shape.Accordingly, the display device 100 makes it possible to achieve aconfiguration suitable for increasing the screen size and reducing thethickness while ensuring adequate strength.

Specifically, the pair of beams 41, the pair of pillars 42, theplurality of sub-pillars 43, etc. are extrusion molded members. Thismakes it possible to quickly manufacture, in large amounts, the beams41, the pillars 42, and the sub-pillars 43 presenting less dimensionalerror and having homogeneous material composition. Moreover, there is noneed of using a mold, unlike a press-molded product. Thus, it can besaid that the display device 100 has an advantageous configuration interms of cost.

It is to be noted that to manufacture the back chassis 4, it ispreferable to use a dedicated jig including, for example, a horizontallyplaced flat plate provided with a plurality of walls and recesses asreferences for positioning the respective extrusion molded members suchas the beams 41, the pillars 42, and the sub-pillars 43. Use of such ajig makes it possible to adjust the positions of the respectiveextrusion molded members so as to achieve appropriate relative positionsand then to fasten the plurality of extrusion molded members to eachother. As a result, this makes it possible to easily reduce thedimensional error of the back chassis 4 after assembling deriving fromthe dimensional error of each of the extrusion molded members.

Moreover, the display device 100 has a configuration in which the middlechassis 5 adjusts the plurality of pieces 50 and holds the plurality ofpieces 50 at suitable positions with respect to a single substrate 51.Specifically, the plurality of pieces 50 are held by the substrate 51 ina state in which the positions thereof with respect to the substrate 51are adjusted to include the respective wall surfaces 54T1 abutting theend surface 3T of the display panel 3 substantially in a same plane.This makes it possible to relax locally generated stress compared to acase where, for example, a single long middle chassis holds the entireend surface on one side of the display panel 3. The long middle chassiseasily causes dimensional error or dimensional variation in thelongitudinal direction due to deformation during or after manufacturing.In contrast, in this embodiment, it is possible to adjust the relativepositions of the plurality of pieces 50 after manufacturing theplurality of pieces 50; therefore, this embodiment not directlyinfluenced by manufacturing error itself and deformation aftermanufacturing are not exerted. Local stress is less likely to be appliedto the display panel 3, which makes it possible to prevent deflection ordistortion of the display panel 3 and consequently avoid localdegradation of image quality near an end edge of the display panel 3.

Moreover, in the display device 100, the reflection member 12 includesthe plurality of divided panels 13 spaced apart from one another in theXY plane. This makes it possible to reduce deviations of relativepositions between the plurality of light sources 10 and the plurality ofopenings 13K corresponding to the respective light sources 10 even in acase where the expansion and contraction of the reflection member 12occur during use. Thus, it is possible to suppress the variation of theluminance distribution accompanied by overheat of the reflection member12, thereby avoiding degradation of the image quality. Specifically, ina case where the gap 13G is covered by the cover member 15, it ispossible to prevent occurrence of the dark line and obtain a flatterluminance distribution with the light emitter 1, thereby sufficientlysuppressing an influence on the image quality.

Moreover, shaping the bottom surface 54T2 of the middle chassis 5 andthe inner surface 61S of the bezel 6 into a bending surface causes thedisplay panel 3 to be also bent so as to bulge forward as getting closerto the center portion thereof. This makes it possible to avoid contactbetween the display panel 3 and the optical sheet 2 even in a case wherea space therebetween (distance in the Z-axis direction) is reduced.Thus, the display device 100 has a configuration suitable for bothincreasing the size and reducing the thickness.

2. OTHER MODIFICATION EXAMPLES

Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to theembodiment, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-describedembodiment, and may be modified in a variety of ways. For example, thepositions and shapes of the back chassis 4, the middle chassis 5, thebezel 6, and the like described in the above-described embodiment areillustrative and non-limiting.

Moreover, the dimensions, dimensional ratios, and shapes of respectivecomponents illustrated in the respective drawings are merely examples,and the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Furthermore, eachcomponent is not limited to a case where the component includes a singlepart, and may include two or more parts.

Moreover, the LED is used as the light source 10 in the aboveembodiment; however, a semiconductor laser or the like may also be usedas the light source 10.

Furthermore, the display device described in the above-mentionedembodiment, etc. is not limited to a case where all the componentsdescribed above are included, and may exclude some components or mayfurther include other components.

For example, the display device 100 described in the above-describedembodiment, etc. may further include a rear cover that covers the backsurface of the back chassis 4 (a surface opposite from the display panel3). The rear cover may include, for example, polystyrene (PS:polystyrene), a mixture of polystyrene and polyphenyleneether (PPE:polyphenyleneether), or the like. The display device 100 may furtherinclude an additional decorative member. The rear cover may be providedwith a substrate including a drive circuit that drives the light emitter1, or a tuner.

Moreover, the display device 100 described in the above-describedembodiment, etc. is not limited to a television set used in a household,and may include a wide variety of display devices that displayinformation indoors and outdoors. Furthermore, the display device 100also has applicability to various medical devices (such as an endoscopicsurgical system, an operating room system, and a microscopic surgerysystem).

It is to be noted that the effects described herein are merely examplesand not limited thereto, and other effects may be included. Moreover,the present technology may have the following configurations.

(1)

A display device, including:

a frame structure having a plurality of extrusion molded members coupledto one another;

a display panel; and

an intermediate member attached to the frame structure and holding thedisplay panel.

(2)

The display device according to (1), in which

the frame structure includes:

a first beam and a second beam both extending in a horizontal direction;

a first pillar and a second pillar both extending in a verticaldirection and joining both ends of the first beam and the second beam,and

a plurality of sub-pillars disposed between the first pillar and thesecond pillar and extending in the vertical direction to join the firstbeam and the second beam.

(3)

The display device according to (2), in which

a rib extending in each longitudinal direction is formed in at least oneof the first beam, the second beam, the first pillar, the second pillar,and the plurality of sub-pillars.

(4)

The display device according to (2) or (3), further including a surfacelight emitting unit, in which

the display panel is a transmissive liquid crystal display panel havinga display surface that displays an image, a back surface on a sideopposite to the display surface, and an end surface that joins thedisplay surface and the back surface, and

the surface light emitting unit is disposed inside the frame structureand applies light to the back surface of the display panel.

(5)

The display device according to (4), in which

the surface light emitting unit includes:

a plurality of light emitting elements each emitting the light; and

a reflection member that reflects a plurality of rays of the lightemitted from the respective plurality of light emitting elements towardthe display panel, and

the plurality of light emitting elements and the reflection member arefixed to at least one of the first pillar, the second pillar, and theplurality of sub-pillars.

(6)

The display device according to (5), in which

the reflection member includes:

a plurality of divided panels spaced from one another in an in-planedirection of the display panel and each fixed to at least one of thefirst pillar, the second pillar, and the plurality of sub-pillars.

(7)

The display device according to (6), in which

the reflection member further includes:

a plurality of cover members that are disposed to overlap a gap betweenthe plurality of divided panels and reflect the plurality of rays of thelight emitted from the respective plurality of light emitting elementstoward the display panel.

(8)

The display device according to any one of (1) to (7), in which

the display panel has a display surface that displays an image, a backsurface on a side opposite to the display surface, and an end surfacethat joins the display surface and the back surface,

the intermediate member has a substrate extending along an outer edge ofthe display panel, and a plurality of pieces disposed along alongitudinal direction of the substrate and held by the substrate tomake respective relative positions to the substrate adjustable, and

each of the plurality of pieces includes an abutment surface abuttingthe end surface of the display panel.

(9)

The display device according to (8), in which

the plurality of pieces are held by the substrate in a state in whichthe relative positions to the substrate are adjusted to include therespective abutment surfaces substantially in a same plane.

(10)

The display device according to any one of (1) to (7), in which

the display panel has a display surface that displays an image in aforward direction, a back surface on a side opposite to the displaysurface, and an end surface that joins the display surface and the backsurface, and bends to bulge forward as getting closer to a centerportion of the display panel.

(11)

The display device according to (10), in which

the intermediate member includes a first opposed surface opposed to aperiphery of the back surface of the display panel, and

the first opposed surface bends to bulge forward as getting closer tothe center portion of the display panel.

(12)

The display device according to (11), further including a bezel disposedto surround outer edges of the display panel and the frame structure, inwhich

the bezel includes a second opposed surface disposed to interpose thedisplay panel between the second opposed surface and the first opposedsurface of the intermediate member, and opposed to a periphery of thedisplay surface of the display panel, and

the second opposed surface is recessed forward as getting closer to thecenter portion of the display panel.

(13)

The display device according to (4), further including an optical sheetbetween the display panel and the surface light emitting unit.

This application claims the priority of Japanese Priority PatentApplication No. 2016-139989 filed with the Japanese Patent Office onJul. 15, 2016, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein byreference.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occurdepending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they arewithin the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

1-13. (canceled)
 14. A display device, comprising: a frame structurehaving a plurality of extrusion molded members coupled to one another,the frame structure including a first beam and a second beam bothextending in a horizontal direction, and a first pillar and a secondpillar both extending in a vertical direction and joining both ends ofthe first beam and the second beam, wherein each of the first pillar andthe second pillar are joined to both ends of the first beam and thesecond beam; a display panel; an intermediate member attached to theframe structure and holding the display panel, the intermediate memberhaving a substrate, apart from the display panel, extending along anouter edge of the display panel, and at least one piece disposed along alongitudinal direction of the substrate and held by the substrate to setrespective relative positions of the display panel, the piece includingan abutment surface abutting the end surface of the display panel; and asurface light emitting unit comprising a plurality of light emittingelements arranged on a surface of the surface light emitting unit; and areflection member over the surface that reflects a plurality of rays ofthe light emitted from the respective plurality of light emittingelements toward the display panel, wherein the reflection member isfixed to at least one of the first pillar, the second pillar, and one ofa sub-pillar between the first and second pillar.
 15. The display deviceaccording to claim 14, wherein the display panel is a transmissiveliquid crystal display panel.
 16. The display device according to claim15, wherein the display panel has curvature controlled by theintermediate member.
 17. The display device according to claim 15,wherein an optical sheet is disposed between the display panel and thereflection member in which the reflection member covers an entire areaover the surface and the reflection member comprises apertures for thelight emitting elements, wherein the optical sheet is configured toredirect light diagonally emitted from the surface light emitting unitin a forward direction to increase front luminance.
 18. The displaydevice according to claim 15, wherein the transmissive liquid crystalpanel includes a liquid crystal layer disposed between a thin filmtransistor substrate and a color filter substrate.
 19. The displaydevice according to claim 14, wherein the display panel has a backsurface on a side opposite to the display surface, and an end surfacethat joins the display surface and the back surface, and the surfacelight emitting unit is disposed inside the frame structure with thesurface of the surface light emitting unit facing the back surface ofthe display panel so that the light from the light emitting elements isapplied directly from the surface of the surface light emitting unittoward the back surface of the display panel.
 20. The display deviceaccording to claim 14, wherein the frame structure includes a pluralityof sub-pillars disposed between the first pillar and the second pillarand extending in the vertical direction to join the first beam and thesecond beam.
 21. The display device according to claim 14, wherein a ribextending in each longitudinal direction is formed in at least one ofthe first beam, the second beam, the first pillar, the second pillar,and the plurality of sub pillars.
 22. The display device according toclaim 21, wherein the reflection member includes a plurality of dividedpanels divided from one another in an in plane direction of the displaypanel and each fixed to at least one of the first pillar, the secondpillar, and at one of the sub pillars.
 23. The display device accordingto claim 22 wherein the reflection member further includes a pluralityof cover members that are disposed to overlap a gap between theplurality of divided panels and reflect the plurality of rays of thelight emitted from the respective plurality of light emitting elementstoward the display panel.
 24. The display device according to claim 23,wherein the first pillar and the second pillar are joined to the bothends of the first beam and the second beam by L-shaped fittings.
 25. Thedisplay device according to claim 23, wherein the gaps suppress adistortion of the reflection member or a displacement of the reflectionmember caused by expansion and contraction.
 26. The display deviceaccording to claim 23, wherein the cover members overlap each other atthe gaps.
 27. The display device according to claim 14, wherein thepiece is held by the substrate in a state in which the relativepositions to the substrate are adjusted to include the respectiveabutment surfaces substantially in a same plane.
 28. The display deviceaccording to claim 14, wherein the piece has a locking section.
 29. Thedisplay device according to claim 28, wherein the locking section has awall section that abuts an end surface of the display panel.
 30. Thedisplay device according to claim 29, wherein the locking sectionincludes at one screw for connecting the end surface 3T of the displaypanel.
 31. The display device according to claim 14, wherein the firstpillar and the second pillar are joined to the both ends of the firstbeam and the second beam by L-shaped fittings.
 32. The display deviceaccording to claim 14, wherein the reflection member includes aplurality of divided panels divided from one another in an in planedirection of the display panel.
 33. The display device according toclaim 14, wherein the display panel has curvature controlled by theintermediate member.